THE SPLEEN CHANNEL OF FOOT-TAIYIN

1. The Spleen Channel of Foot-Taiyin starts from the tip of the big toe (Yinbai, Sp. 1) (see Diagram):
1. It runs along the medial aspect of the foot at the junction of the red and white skin,
2. and ascends in front of the medial maleolus
3. up to the leg.
4. It follows the posterior aspect of the tibia,
5. crosses and goes in front of the Liver Channel of Foot-Jueyin.
6. Passing through the anterior medial aspect of the knee and thigh,
7. it enters the abdomen,
8. then the spleen, its pertaining organ, and connects with the stomach.
9. From the stomach it ascends, traversing the diaphragm,
10. and running alongside the esophagus.
11. When it reaches the root of the tongue it spreads over its lower surface.
12. The branch from the stomach goes upward through the diaphragm,
13. and flows into the heart to link with Heart Channel of Hang-Shaoyin (14) (see Diagram)
2. The following are the 21 points in this channel:
1. Yinbai (Jing-Well Point, Sp. 1)
1. Location: On the medial side of the big toe, about 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Abdominal distension, uterine bleeding, mental disorders, dream-disturbed sleep and convulsion.
3. Method: Puncture obliquely 0.1 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The dorsal digital artery.
2. Innervation: On the anastomosis of the dorsal digital nerve derived from the superficial peroneal nerve and the plantar digital proprial nerve.
2. Dadu (Ying-Spring Point, Sp.2)
1. Location: On the medial side of the big toe, distal and inferior to the first metatarsodigital joint, at the junction of the red and white skin (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Abdominal distension, gastric pain, and fever..
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.1-0.2 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The branches of the medial plantar artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The plantar digital proprial nerve derived from the medial plantar nerve.
3. Taibai (Shu-Stream and Yuan-Source Point, Sp.3)
1. Location: Proximal and inferior to the head of the first metatarsal bone, at the junction of the red and white skin (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Gastric pain, abdominal distension, sluggishness, dysentery, constipation, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The dorsal venous network of foot, the medial plantar artery and the branches of the medial tarsal artery.
2. Innervation: The branches of the saphenous nerve and superficial peroneal nerve.
4. Gongsun (Luo-Connecting Point, Sp. 4)
1. Location: In the depression distal and inferior to the base of the first metatarsal bone, at the junction of the red and white skin (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Gastric pain, vomiting, borborygmus, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The medial tarsal artery and the dorsal venous network of foot.
2. Innervation: The saphenous nerve and the branch of the superficial peroneal nerve.
5. Note: This is one of the Eight Confluent Points communicating with the Chong Channel.
5. Shangqiu (Jing-River Point, Sp.5)
1. Location: In the depression distal and inferior to the medial malleolus, midway between the tuberosity of the navicular bone and the tip of the medial malleolus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Borborygmus, abdominal distension, stiffness and pain of the tongue, constipation, diarrhea, an pain in the foot and ankle joint.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.2-0.3 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The medial tarsal artery and the great saphenous vein.
2. Innervation: The medial crural cutaneous nerve and the branch of the superficial peroneal nerve.
6. Sanyinjiao (Sp.6)
1. Location: 3 cun directly above the tip of the medial malleolus, on the posterior border of the tibia, on the line drawn from the medial malleolus in Yinlingquan (Sp. 9) (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Borborygmus, abdominal distension, loose stools with undigested food, irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, prolapse of uterus, amenorrhea, sterility, difficult labor, seminal emission, pain of the external genitalia, hernia, dysuria, ensuresis, muscular atrophy, motor impairment and paralysis and pain of the lower extremities, insomnia.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The great saphenous vein, the posterior tibial artery and vein.
2. Innervation: Superficially, the medial crural cutaneous nerve; deeper, in the posterior aspect, the tibial nerve.
5. Notes:
1. Sanyinjia (Sp. 6) is the meeting point of the three yin channels of foot (the Spleen Channel of Foot-Taiyin, the kidney Channel of Foot-Shaoying and the Liver Channel of Foot-Jueyin.)
2. Acupuncture is contraindicated during pregnancy.
3. In the medial aspect of the leg, the distance from the tip of the medial malleolus to the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia (Yinligquan, Sp.9) is measured as 13 cun.
7. Lougu (Sp.7)
1. Location: 6 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus, 3 cun above Sanyinjia (Sp. 6), (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Abdominal distension, borborygmus, cold, numbness and paralysis of the knee and leg.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
1. Regional anatomy - see sanyinjiao (Sp. 6.):
8. Diji (Xi-Cleft Point, Sp. 8)
1. Location: 3 cun below the medial condyle of the tibia, on the line connecting Yinlingquan (Sp.9) and the medial malleolus (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Abdominal distension, anorexia, dysentery, irregular menstruation, dysuria, seminal emission and edema.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: Anteriorly, the great saphenous vein and the branch of the genu suprema artery; deeper, the posterior tibial artery and vein.
2. Innervation: See Sanyinjiao (Sp. 6.)
9. Yinlingquan (He-Sea Point, Sp. 9)
1. Location: On the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia, in the depression between the posterior border of the tibia and m. gastrocnemius, (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Abdominal distension, edema, jaundice, diarrhea, dysuria, incontinence of urine, pain of the external genitalia, seminal emission, and pain in the knee.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: Anteriorly, the great saphenous vein, the genu suprema artery; deeper, the posterior tibial artery and vein.
2. Innervation: Superficially, the medial crural cutaneous nerve; deeper, the tibial nerve.
10. Xuehai (Sp. 10)
1. Location: When knee is flexed, the point is 2 cun above the mediosuperior border of the patella, on the bulge of the medial portion of m. quadriceps femoris. Another way to locate this point is to cup your right palm to the patient's left knee, with the thumb on its medial side and the other four finger directed proximally. The point is where the tip of your thumb rest (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, uterine bleeding, pain in the medial aspect of the thigh, eczema, and urticaria.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.7-1.2 inches. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The muscular branches of the femoral artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The anterior femoral cutaneous nerve and the muscular branch of the femoral nerve.
5. Note: In the medial aspect of the thigh, the distance from the level of the upper border of symphysis pubis to the medial epicondyle of femur is measured as 18 cun.
11. Jimen (Sp. 11)
1. Location: 6 cun above Xuehai (Sp. 10), on the line drawn from Xuehai (Sp. 10) to Chongmen (Sp. 12.)
2. Indications: Retention of urine, enuresis, pain and swelling in the inguinal region.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3-0.5 inch. Deep puncture is contraindicated. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: Superficially, the great saphenous vein; deeper on the lateral side, the femoral artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The anterior femoral cutaneous nerve; deeper, the saphenous nerve.
12. Chongmen (Sp. 12)
1. Location: Superior to the lateral end of the inguinal groove, on the lateral side of the femoral artery, at the level of the upper border of symphysis pubis, 3.5 cun lateral to Qugu (Ren 2.)
2. Indications: Abdominal pain, hernia, and retention of urine.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: On the medial side, the femoral artery.
2. Innervation: Just where the femoral nerve traverses.
13. Fushe (Sp. 13)
1. Location: 0.7 cun above Chongmen (Sp. 12), 4 cun lateral to the Ren Channel.
2. Indications: Abdominal pain, hernia, and mass in the abdomen.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.7-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Innervation: The ilioinguinal nerve.
14. Fuie (Sp. 14)
1. Location: 3 cun above Fushe (Sp. 13), 1.3 cun below Daheng (Sp.15), on the lateral side of m. rectus abdominis.
2. Indications: Abdominal pain around the umbilical region, hernia, and diarrhea.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The 11^th intercostal artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The 11^th intercostal nerve.
15. Daheng (Sp. 15)
1. Location: 4 cun lateral to the center of the umbilicus, on the mammillary line, lateral to m. rectus abdominis (see Diagram)
2. Indications: Dysentery, constipation, and pain in the lower abdomen.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The 10^th intercostal artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The 10^th intercostal nerve.
16. Fuai (Sp. 16)
1. Location: 3 cun above Daheng (Sp. 15)
2. Indications: Abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation and dysentery.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.5-1.0 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The 8^th intercostal artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The 8^th intercostal nerve.
17. Shidou (Sp. 17)
1. Location: 6 cun lateral to the Ren Channel, or 2 cun lateral to the mammillary line, in the 5^th intercostal space.
2. Indications: Sensation of fullness and pain in the chest and hypochondriac region.
3. Method: Puncture perpendicularly 0.3-0.5 inch. . Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The thoracoepigastric vein.
2. Innervation: The lateral cutaneous branch of the 5^th intercostal nerve.
18. Tianxi (Sp. 18)
1. Location: 2 cun lateral to the nipple, in the 4^th intercostal space.
2. Indications: Sensation of fullness and pain in the chest, cough, mastitis, and lactation deficiency.
3. Method: Puncture obliquely 0.4-0.5 inch, or apply moxa stick for 5-10 minutes.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The branches of the lateral thoracic artery and vein, the thoracoepigastric artery and vein, the 4^th intercostal artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The lateral cutaneous branch of the 4^th intercostal nerve.
19. Xionxiang (Sp. 19)
1. Location: One rib above Tianxi (Sp.18), in the 3^rd intercostal space, 6 cun lateral to the Ren Channel.
2. Indications: Sensation of fullness and pain in the chest and hypochondriac region.
3. Method: Puncture obliquely 0.4-0.5 inch. . Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The lateral thoracic artery and vein, the 3^rd intercostal artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The lateral cutaneous branch of the 3^rd intercostal nerve.
20. Zhouroung (Sp. 20)
1. Location: One rib above Xiongxiang (Sp. 19) directly below Zhongfu (Lu.1) and Yunmen (Lu. 2), in the second intercostal space, 6 cun lateral to the Ren Channel.
2. Indications: Sensation of fullness in the chest and hypochondriac region, and cough.
3. Method: Puncture obliquely 0.4-0.5 inch. . Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The lateral thoracic artery and vein, the second intercostal artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The seventh intercostal nerve and the terminal branch of the long thoracic nerve.
21. Dabao (Major Luo-Connecting Point of the Spleen, Sp. 21)
1. Location: On the mid-axillary line, 6 cun below the axilla, midway between the axilla and the free end of the 11^th rib.
2. Indications: Pain in the chest and hypochondriac region, asthma, generally aching and weakness.
3. Method: Puncture obliquely 0.3-0.5 inch. Moxibustion is applicable.
4. Regional anatomy
1. Vasculature: The thoracodorsal artery and vein, the seventh intercostal artery and vein.
2. Innervation: The seventh intercostal nerve and the terminal branch of the long thoracic nerve.
3. The Spleen Channel of Foot-Taiyin starts from the tip of the big toe (Yinbai, Sp. 1)(see Diagram):